Writing and Publishing News from

Speaking of giving thanks (as I did in my most recent blog entry), yesterday I attended a very special “thank you” luncheon. I joined about two dozen other women at a restaurant housed in a quaint old home. Everyone there knew some of the guests and all of us knew the hostess. Glenda and I attended school together from 3rd grade all the way through high school. Gathered inside while a light mist dampened everything outside, were other former classmates, women from Glenda’s church, her neighbors and friends. Over the last 3 years, she has been battling cancer and she invited all of us to lunch as a way to say “Thank you for your support and prayers.”

This was a festive group. Glenda is doing well at the moment, which fills us with joy. It’s holiday time, so many of us were adorned in the red sequined Santa sweaters and jingle bell jewelry we wear only once a year. And we had assigned seating. Glenda told me that she had “fun” designing the seating arrangements and was confident that each guest would enjoy getting to know their tablemates. This was certainly true in my case. In fact, I thanked Glenda for following her great instincts.

None of the women, as far as I know, were writers, but I imagine that all of them had something to write about. The average age of attendees was probably around 70, so most have lived through seven decades. And based just on the events and activities reported by my tablemates, I knew that there were many more fascinating stories that would never be told outside of casual conversation.

During the first decade or so that I wrote for publication, I never met another writer. Today, everyone is writing. So it seemed odd to be with so many non-writers. Oh wait, there were a few writers in the group. One woman told me that her son had just had a screenplay accepted in Sundance. Another one said her husband is thinking about writing a book. Two women admitted that they have books in mind. Hmm, I wonder if the connections made yesterday in that turn-of-the-century home will result in any new books in the future.

Have you inspired someone, lately, to follow their passion or their dream of writing? What do you say to people who tell you they’d like to write a book or who ask you how to get published? Here’s an excellent response: “Check out Patricia Fry’s books at http://www.matilijapress.com In particular, you’ll want to read her newly revised book, The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book because it will definitely prepare you for the highly competitive business of publishing.” And then suggest that they contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com.

Have you given thanks, lately? Yes, Thanksgiving is over and we’re deeply imbedded in the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza season, which makes it a lovely time of year to thank someone.

Sure, you say, “Thank you,” when a gentleman opens the post office door so you can get through with an armload of packages. You thank the clerk who takes extra time to triple wrap your fragile purchase. And you wave a quick thank you to the motorist who gives you room to move into your turn lane on a busy freeway.

You may drop off thank you gifts for your hairdresser, your favorite printing professional and, of course, your editor. But what about some of those people in the past who gave you a gift that changed your life?

My daughter, Penny, a nurse and all around beautiful person, was on a bus last week with other volunteers on their way to attend a volunteer appreciation event put on by the participants in the local Teen Challenge program. She was making small talk with someone seated near her when she discovered that this woman, Marta, was a writer. Penny said, “My mom is a writer, too.” Marta asked, “What’s her name?” Penny told her, “Patricia Fry.”

Marta turned in her seat to face Penny and said, “Patricia Fry is your mother? She changed my life. I would not be a writer if it wasn’t for Patricia Fry.”

She went on to say that she had just about given up writing, when she heard me speak at a local Barnes and Noble store. I evidently said something that day that inspired or somehow moved her to get serious about a freelance writing career and this woman never looked back. She told Penny that because of me, she is supporting herself in a lifestyle she loves through her writing.

Don’t you know this made my holiday season? But I began to wonder why it took so long for this thank you to reach me. And why did it arrive in this round-about way? I thought about the people who had touched my life in small and significant ways over the years and realized that some of them are probably clueless as to how their words or gestures affected me. Why? Because I never got around to issuing a formal thank you.

I have decided to take time this lovely season to offer my words of thanks to those I can contact and, to those who can’t be reached; they are gently and lovingly in my thoughts.

Now go out and thank someone. It will make the holiday brighter for you both.

Prepare for success as a writer or author in 2008 by signing up for one of my online on-demand courses. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm. Buy your reference copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book and the companion Author’s Workbook ($28 for the combo). http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Contact me to edit your book manuscript and/or for a publishing consultation. plfry620@yahoo.com

My book is with the printer. Yup, the revised edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book is out of my hands and into the care of strangers at a new-to-me offset printing company. I’m experiencing a mix of relief and sadness. I’m glad that the project is completed, but I miss the work.

Are you familiar with that lull that comes after the whirlwind of activity in the final preparation of a book? While some people live for the lull, to me a lull can be dull. I’d rather feel at least a little pressure.

Some of you know that I am creating a workbook to accompany the second edition of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. But even this is out of my hands at the moment. It’s with my designer. I feel rather like a mom whose children have gone off to kindergarten for the first time.

While I’m currently working with a few clients and there are several projects I could start, I’m not, at this moment, invested in a project and it feels weird. While putting the finishing touches on The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book, this month, I have also completed the 9-page SPAWN Market Update for September, I have written one new article, hopefully, for Angela Hoy’s Writer’s Weekly and I’ve submitted a few reprints. Ron at Publishing Basics will publish my piece, Publishing: The Raw Truth. I’ve submitted articles to Willamette Writer, Write News, Absolute Write and Write Success. And I’ve been practicing a speech I’ll present August 25 at the Ventura Book Festival. I’m speaking on Self-Publishing.

I’m actually going to leave my home office for a long walk this morning before temps hit the triple digits. I’ve been taking short walks while busy with the book details. I’m also going to try out the new window squeegee I bought at the county fair last week. Often, I find that, when I get out of the office and do something mindless such as walking, washing windows or gardening, I return to work overflowing with renewed creativity.

There is no lack of projects in this office. I collect them like some people collect pennies, tools or shoes. I need to write the promo for my usual pre-publication book discount offer. I’ll start planning my major promotional campaign for the book revision soon. I really would like to spend some time with my cat stories book. I may bring it out as an ebook early next year. I have a 3-inch stack of files on my desk filled with article and book ideas. And, thankfully, there seems to be no shortage of clients who need help with their projects.

Writing lulls don’t last very long in this office and, as you can see, this is by design.

Be sure to visit my Web site http://www.matilijapress.com. Sign up for one of my Courses on Demand. Learn how to self-publish a book, how to write a book proposal or how to get involved in writing magazine articles. And the best part is, I teach you on your schedule. http://www.matilijapress.com/courses.htm

I can hardly believe that I’ve been blogging since November of 2005 and this is blog number 88. Five years ago, I didn’t even know what a blog was? Did you? Heck, the term blog wasn’t coined until just 10 years ago. Do you know how many blogs there are now? In May of this year, a whopping 71 million of them were recorded.

Everyone manages his/her blog differently. I typically add entries to my publishing blog every week or 10 days. While I sometimes get personal, I try to share, teach, inform, guide and otherwise coach my blog visitors on writing and publishing. My topics during 20 months of my blogging career have included 42 entries on writing, 19 on book promotion, 17 on publishing, I used 5 entries to flaunt my new books and there were 4 entries that I forgot to categorize.

You can visit my blog site once a month and be treated to anywhere from 2 to 4 new entries—you can count on it. Put it on your calendar. You can also search through the blog archives and pull up entries on book promotion ideas, how to sell books at a book festival, tips for operating a freelance writing business, warnings related to fee-based POD “self-publishing” services, how to write during the summer heat and the holiday hustle-bustle, how to hone your organization skills, how to more effectively use the subject line in your email messages and my trip to Dubai. Yes, you went to Dubai with me. I wrote fascinating blog entries about my experiences from my laptop in my plush hotel room in Dubai last year.

If you want information, encouragement, resources and my perspective (after over 30 years in the business) on writing and publishing, visit my blog often, surf through the archives and also check out the articles I have posted at my web site http://www.matilijapress.com/articles.htm There, you’ll find about 75 articles related to writing and publishing. You might also enjoy reading some of the articles I’ve written for general magazines such as, Cat Fancy, The World and I Magazine, Woman’s Own, Entrepreneur and others.

I apologize for not allowing comments at my blog site—the spam problem just became too time-consuming to deal with. But I welcome email comments, questions and suggestions. Email me at: Plfry620@yahoo.com